Türkiye holds talks for export of drone carrier ship to Gulf nation

The Turkish defence industry is holding negotiations with a yet unnamed Gulf nation on the export of a drone carrier ship like the TCG Anadolu.

This has been reported on the Navy Recognition website, referring to a statement made by Dr. Haluk Gorgun, the President of the Defence Industry Agency of Türkiye as published on the Turkish Defence Twitter account, speculating the potential buyers to be Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, or Kuwait.

The TCG Anadolu (L-400) is a state-of-the-art amphibious assault ship that is part of the Turkish Navy, capable of being transformed into a V/STOL aircraft carrier.

Initiated at the Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul, the ship's construction commenced on 30 April 2016, with the keel laid on 7 February 2018. The Anadolu officially entered the Turkish Navy with a grand ceremony on 10 April 2023.

TCG Anadolu has been designed to fulfill the diverse demands of the Turkish Armed Forces, ranging from enduring high-intensity combat operations to providing long-term humanitarian relief. The ship also serves as a flagship and command center for the Turkish Navy.

TCG Anadolu's design is borrowed from the Spanish ship Juan Carlos I, courtesy of the Sedef-Navantia consortium which won the tender for Turkey's amphibious assault ship project.

The vessel's weapon systems are the brainchild of Turkish firms Aselsan and Havelsan, integrating a Turkish combat management system, GENESIS-ADVENT. She also features the Leonardo SPN-720 Precision Approach Radar to assist in all-weather aircraft landings.

The Anadolu, spanning 231 meters in length, can accommodate up to 10 F-35Bs or 12 medium-sized helicopters in its "V/STOL aircraft carrier" configuration.

The vessel can carry up to 29 main battle tanks or 27 Amphibious Assault Vehicles. Furthermore, it boasts a light cargo garage and a heavy load garage, making it a versatile asset for the Turkish Navy.

The V/STOL aircraft carrier configuration of the TCG Anadolu is primed to host the Baykar Kızılelma and TAI Anka-3, cutting-edge UCAVs developed under Project MIUS. The ship can also support the Bell AH-1W Super Cobra and Sikorsky S-70B-28 Seahawk helicopters.